Area 109, Hawridge and Bellingdon Ridges and Valleys

BELLINGDON AND HAWRIDGE RIDGES AND VALLEYS summary assessment evaluation guidelines area109

District Map showing location of LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREA Tring

Dacorum Borough Council

100018935 2004 Berkhamsted Hemel Hempstead

area 109

LOCATION harmonious landscape, punctuated by small, well integrated To the north of Chesham and largely within settlements on the ridges. Buckinghamshire. The character area incorporates the settlements of Cholesbury, Hawridge and Bellingdon. (NB The straight lines to the south and west of the above map (and associated GIS files) indicating the boundaries of KEY CHARACTERISTICS the character area do not mark the geographical extent of • strong pattern of radiating narrow ridges and valleys the character area but reflect the lack of digital OS data • commons and grazing pasture, also regenerating available within Buckinghamshire). secondary woodlands • traditional pattern of settlement and vernacular LANDSCAPE CHARACTER architecture A series of narrow ridges and dry valleys similar in • discrete/localized woodland landform to the Markyate Ridges and Valleys, (see Area 126). Pastoral and equestrian fields, small to medium size, DISTINCTIVE FEATURES comprise the greater part of the character area. To the • Cholesbury and Hawridge Commons north east within Hertfordshire there are some larger arable • Cholesbury Windmill fields. The landscape is well contained by mixed hedgerows • Cholesbury Fort earthworks and occasional fenced field boundaries, with localized areas of broadleaf and mixed/plantation woodland. This is a

• Hedged lane (HCC Landscape Unit)

Dacorum Landscape Character Assessment pg 58 BELLINGDON AND HAWRIDGE RIDGES AND VALLEYS summary assessment evaluation guidelines area 109

PHYSICAL INFLUENCES HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES Geology and soils. The principal geological composition is Within Hertfordshire the area is essentially influenced by chalky drift in the dry valleys with exposed Upper and the Rossway Estate, together with associated parklands, Lower Chalk in the valley bottoms. Here the soils (Charity 2 buildings and farms. A strong sense of thematic, historical association), are well drained and flinty. On the ridges and cultural continuity is evident in what is essentially a plateau drift soils overly and clay with flints, (Batcombe working estate landscape. The windmill at Cholesbury, association). (Buckinghamshire), although disused, is important an Topography. A series of converging narrow dry valleys of important focal point. relatively steep gradient are divided by long fingerlike Field Patterns. The historic pattern within Hertfordshire is ridges. 18th century parliamentary enclosure. Some fields have Degree of slope. Along the ridges the slopes may be as been further enlarged in the 20th century. slack as 1 in 150 or less. In marked contrast the slopes of Transport pattern. A pattern of minor roads radiates out the dry valleys are often as steep as 1 in 5. from Chesham to the north. This tends to follow either the Altitude range. From 180m on the ridges to 125m in the valley bottoms or the ridge lines. Few secondary routes and valley floors. tracks traverse the strongly undulating ridges and valleys. Hydrology. There are no streams, and little standing water Settlements and built form. There are no settlements apart from the pond at Cholesbury Common. within the Hertfordshire part of the character area. Within Land cover and land use. Within Hertfordshire the land Buckinghamshire the distinctive settlement pattern follows use is mainly arable with some woodlands. Throughout the the narrow ridge lines. At Cholesbury and Hawridge there is remainder of the area grazing for cattle and horses is more a traditional open pattern of ribbon development. frequent. Equestrian pasture is typically linked with the Cholesbury has some fine 18th century brick houses more open settlement pattern on the ridges. The common fronting the green and a rare, fully rigged windmill nearby. at Cholesbury has recreational uses and public access. At Bellingdon there is a denser pattern of 20th century Vegetation and wildlife. The small sections of this area in settlement, particularly approaching Chesham. Settlement Hertfordshire have very limited semi-natural vegetation. within the valley bottoms is generally restricted to Remnant stands of calcareous beech/ash woodland occur farmsteads. within secondary plantations which contain spruce, larch and cypress in the valleys near Rossway. There are no old OTHER SOURCES OF AREA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION grasslands in the Hertfordshire sections of the area. Buckinghamshire CC: The Landscape Plan for Woodland cover is relatively higher within the Buckinghamshire-Part 1 Landscape Character Assessment Buckinghamshire section of the area, particularly to the (Landscape Character Zone Z10-Incised Dip Slope) steeper valley slopes with hanging woodlands. Hedges are typically tall particularly along roads. Species are mixed including hazel and holly. The Rossway estate is known to support significant number of hibernating bats.

• Cholesbury Windmill (A.Tempany)

pg 59 Dacorum Landscape Character Assessment BELLINGDON AND HAWRIDGE RIDGES AND VALLEYS summary assessment evaluation guidelines area 109

VISUAL AND SENSORY PERCEPTION COMMUNITY VIEWS The distinctive narrow ridges and valleys create a strong This corner of what is mostly a Buckinghamshire landscape sense of character. The presence of mature woodland in character area is well regarded by Hertfordshire residents some of the valleys adds to the marked sense of (C). containment. From the ridges there are localized views, however tall hedges and settlement both block views and LANDSCAPE RELATED DESIGNATIONS provide visual enclosure. This is a relatively small scale and AONB intimate landscape with few visual or audible detractors. Rarity and distinctiveness. This is an rare landscape type within the county when the area as a whole is considered. There are strong similarities with the Markyate Valleys and Ridges.

VISUAL IMPACT Most of the development is in sympathy with the scale and historic pattern.The exception is towards Chesham where there is a more widespread suburban influence.

ACCESSIBILITY There is a good provision of footpaths throughout the area, both on the ridges and in the valleys. However there are few bridleways, despite the number of equestrians in the area. Cholesbury and Hawridge Commons are important for informal recreation.

CONDITION STRENGTH OF CHARACTER Land cover change: localised Impact of landform: prominent Age structure of tree cover: mature Impact of land cover: apparent Extent of semi-natural habitat survival: scattered Impact of historic pattern: apparent Management of semi-natural habitat: not obvious Visibility from outside: locally visible Survival of cultural pattern: intact Sense of enclosure: partial Impact of built development: moderate Visual unity: coherent Impact of land-use change: moderate Distinctiveness/rarity: rare

Strengthen Conserve Safeguard and and and

GOOD reinforce strengthen manage

Improve Improve Conserve and and and reinforce conserve restore MODERATE MODERATE

CONDITION Restore Improve condition Reconstruct and to maintain POOR restore character

WEAK MODERATE STRONG

STRENGTH OF CHARACTER

Dacorum Landscape Character Assessment pg 60 BELLINGDON AND HAWRIDGE RIDGES AND VALLEYS summary assessment evaluation guidelines area 109

STRATEGY AND GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING CHANGE: IMPROVE AND CONSERVE • promote creation of new hedgerows in place of post and • conserve and enhance the distinctive character of rail fences and temporary enclosure in areas of extensive settlements and individual buildings by promoting the equestrian activity. Protection from browsing to be conservation of important buildings and high standards of included new building or alterations to existing properties, all with • promote the retention of the character of local minor the consistent use of locally traditional materials and roads by the management of hedgerows, hedgebanks designed to reflect the traditional character of the area and verges. Where part of a hedge has been damaged or • encourage the planting of new roadside hedgerow trees removed it should be replanted with a mix of indigenous including oaks within the Rossway Estate species • encourage the management of mature trees and • identify key viewpoints from ridges and along valleys and woodland edge/hedges to maintain habitat opportunities promote selective openings by hedgerow management to for local bat population within the Rossway Estate enhance opportunites to view area • provide facilities to facilitate quiet recreational activities • resist proposals to extend sub-urban influences either while not adversely affecting the character and quality of from within the existing villages or from Chesham the landscape • ensure that local highway improvements are sympathetic • promote awareness and consideration of the setting of to the scale, pattern and character of the existing road the AONB, and views to and from it, when considering network development and land use change proposals on sites • promote management plans to Cholesbury Commons to adjacent to the AONB achieve a mix of habitat types including grassland, scrub and woodland and a balance between wildlife and public access. Promote local initiatives for traditional management • promote improved hedgerow management to retain hedgerow patterns. To include trimming, laying and new planting • promote the creation of buffer zones between intensive arable production and important semi-natural habitats and the creation of links between semi-natural habitats • conserve unimproved and semi-improved grassland wherever possible avoiding agricultural improvements in order to maintain their nature conservation value. Encourage traditional management by grazing • ensure that built development both in the area or adjacent is integrated through the use of native tree and shrub species and the creation of hedging and/or planting to the perimeter

• North of Hadden’s Plantation, Chesham Road (HCC Landscape Unit)

pg 61 Dacorum Landscape Character Assessment